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Garden Mums

Garden Mums. Tony Glover Cullman County Extension Coordinator. Thanks to Dr. Kessler – Auburn University. Scorpions and Centaurs. Introduction. Dendranthema × grandiflora Traditional fall-flowering pot crop Greenhouse or outdoor container crop. Cultivars. Scorpions and Centaurs.

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Garden Mums

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  1. Garden Mums Tony Glover Cullman County Extension Coordinator Thanks to Dr. Kessler – Auburn University Scorpions and Centaurs

  2. Introduction • Dendranthema × grandiflora • Traditional fall-flowering pot crop • Greenhouse or outdoor container crop

  3. Cultivars Scorpions and Centaurs • Garden Mum cultivars • Wide assortment of flower colors and forms • Plant shapes and sizes • Flowering response (time) in the fall (early, mid, late, early season extenders, late season extenders) • Basic color classifications useful for production and marketing • Yellow, pink, lavender, white Bronze, red, salmon, orange • Production colors • Yellow 32% • Pink, purple and lavender combined 22% • Bronze and Reds at 18% each • Salmon at 6% • White at 4%

  4. Cultivars • Classified by flower form • Shape, number, and arrangement of ray and disk flowers • Daisies, quill, spider, pompon, decoratives among others • Decorative and daisy (eye) by far the most popular • 76% and 22% of market, respectively • Plant form • From tall and upright to low, spreading mounds • Grower strategy • Several good performers in each color group • And in each response group; early, mid, late and season extenders • Small trial of new introductions

  5. Containers • Knowledge of market key to choosing containers • Most production, 8" by 5" black plastic ‘mum pan' • Wider range of sizes and styles desired by retailers • Small growers for local sales should go larger • Perceived quality, sales, and profitability • Different containers for different markets • Upscale retail: decorative pots, specimen pots • Landscape: quart, 1-, or 2-gallon nursery pots • Mass market: 4- and 4.5-inch pots • Hanging baskets (low spreading cultivars) • 2 – 3 gallon black nursery pots or 12- 14” plastic terra cotta pots 2.5 gal squat nursery pot

  6. Propagation • Propagation alternatives • Specialized propagator/breeders • Rooted cuttings (most growers) • Shipped bare-root • Shipped in cell packs or large plugs • Unrooted cuttings (propagation facilities) • Less cost per cutting but more time and control needed • Bare-root a perishable product • Pot soon after arrival • Root disturbed + shipping = “transplant shock” • Cell packs • No transplant shock but “bonzi effect” if delayed potting • Inspected for problems upon arrival!

  7. Growing Media • Many different combinations of components used • Course, loose, and well drained (especially outdoors) • First decision • Purchase a commercially prepared mix (start with this option) • Or mix your own (try small numbers with this option) • Contents • Water and nutrient holding component(s) • Peat moss and composted bark • Inert drainage promoting component(s) • Perlite, sand, vermiculite • pH of 5.7-6.2 using dolomitic limestone • Micronutrient – most mixes have

  8. Planting • Rooted cuttings planted mid June • Plant in 18 count landscaper trays • Planted shallow with roots just covered • Plant in moist mix, water soon after potting • Fertilize 200-250 ppm nitrogen, 20-20-20, immediately • Do not let transplants wilt • Fertilize twice weekly • Grow in trays until foliage starts to crowd and plant is well rooted (about 3 weeks)

  9. Growing Area • Growing area choices - outdoor area • Full sun, as level as possible • Black plastic or gravel weed control • Abundant, dependable, high quality water supply • Avoid light pollution (delay flowering) • Night lighting from street lights • Security lights • Busy street with frequent automobile lights

  10. Spacing • Space in straight rows with ample room for growth • Space determined by pot size and irrigation method • 6" pots, 12-15" apart • 8" pots, 18-24" apart • 12-14” or 2-3 gal pots, 24-30" apart

  11. Irrigation • Garden Mums require plentiful amounts of water! • Not a simple task in summer • Outdoors, weather can play a large part • Rain reduces irrigation need so pay attention • Hot, dry weather increases irrigation - da • Media allowed to dry only slightly between watering • Garden Mums should not be allowed to wilt (until near maturity) • Summer heat - multiple watering per day (normally 2)

  12. Irrigation • Some form of automatic watering system • Once plants placed at final spacing outdoors • Overhead sprinkler-type watering systems • Many growers use • Waste a lot of water • Poor watering uniformity • Keep the foliage wet for extended periods • Microtube systems • More expensive • Greater uniformity • Less wasted water • Keeps foliage and flowers dry • System must be ‘designed' for the area

  13. Fertilizer • Large quantities of fertilizer during vegetative growth • Supply ample nutrition beginning the day of potting • Strategy • Constant 200-250 ppm N, complete N-P-K fertilizer (min 3 times per week) • 20-20-20 (first 2-3 weeks), 20-10-20 (next several weeks) • Finish • Constant 125-150 ppm N or 200-250 twice weekly • 13-2-13 or 15-5-15 Cal-Mag (can just keep using 20-10-20 and cut back frequency) • When flower buds begin to show color you may stop • Weekly application use higher rates, 400-500 ppm N

  14. Fertilizer • Benefits of slow-release fertilizer (14-14-14) • 6-9 month release formulation safer avoid 3-4 month release • May be mixed with media or top dress • Often more beneficial as top dress • Follow manufacturers recommendation rate • Sometimes beneficial in extreme rainy summers • Soil test and tissue analysis once a month • E.C. 1.5-2.0 mmhos/cm (2:1 extraction) • Should not exceed 2.5

  15. Pinching • Artificial way of forcing plants to branch – older cultivars. • Newer cultivars do not need and these are the only kind to grow.

  16. Pre-mature Budding • Garden Mum cuttings • Can, at times, set flower buds prematurely • May arrive from propagator prematurely budded • Causes • Low temperatures • Stress from under watering • Low fertilizer levels • Inadvertent exposure to the incorrect photoperiod • Not usually a problem • Usually part of the self pinching growth habit • Cultural practices get active vegetative growth • Plenty of water, fertilizer, light and space to grow

  17. Plant Growth Retardant • Growth rate and final height varies among cultivars • Some growth regulation beneficial to most cultivars • B-Nine is PGR of choice on garden mums • 7 days after transplanting you may use foliar spray at 1200 - 2500 ppm to shorten internodes • Do not apply after flower buds visible • Can reduce flower size • Benefits • Reduces final plant height • Intensify dark green color of foliage • Results in a more rounded, uniform crop • However – not always needed and has risk

  18. Florel • Florel as pinching agent and PGR • Apply early at 500 ppm • Final application 6-7 wks prior to flowering • Benefits • Stimulating lateral branching • Controlling stem elongation • Encouraging vegetative growth • Drawbacks • Slight delay in flowering (spread marketing season ) • Late application can abort flower buds

  19. Photoperiod • Quantitative (facultative) short-day plants • Eventually flower under any daylength, faster under short days • Critical day length for most cultivars 13½-14½ hrs. • Some cultivars initiate earlier and others later in season • Most cultivars have a response time of 6-9 wks • Amount of time from beginning of short-days to flower • Cultivars can be classified by response groups • Outdoor Production: E=early, M=mid, L=late season, ESE=Early season extenders, LSE=Late season extenders

  20. Photoperiod • Temperature modifies the photoperiodic response • Critical day length decreases as the night temperature increases • Above about 72° to 74°F • Consequence • Flower initiation delayed when night temperatures warm at the beginning of short-day conditions • Flowering will be later in the season • Crop may bloom later or earlier from one year to the next

  21. Scheduling • Variations occur due to • Cultivar response group • Final plant size desired • Cultural practices • Environmental factors • Market needs influence scheduling • Smaller plants in smaller containers Shorter production schedule (cuttings planted later) • Larger plants in larger containers Longer production schedule (cuttings planted earlier) • Propagation time • 10-14 days for unrooted cuttings

  22. Scheduling • Establish a system of record keeping • Each cultivar, container size, potting date • Major production steps, soil mix, nutrients, PGR, etc. • Date when plants were ready for market • Colors/Flower types most desired • Use accumulated information to make needed changes for more precisely planned crop next year

  23. Diseases • Bacterial leaf spot • Dark-brown to black water-soaked lesions on ½ of leaf • Typically begins on lower leaves, spreads upward • Favored by moisture on leaves, high humidity, • high temperature, growing susceptible cultivars • Septoria leaf spot • Small yellow spots on foliage, later turn dark brown or black • Leaves may fall off or remain on stem • Spread by splashing water • Avoid overhead irrigation

  24. Diseases • Pythium/Phytophthora • Root rot disease causing brown or dark gray lesions • Wilting of the foliage, especially during the day • Avoid plant stress; drought episode, over watering, • High salts • Inject fungicides as drench • Botrytis • Infect leaves / flowers under high humidity • Avoid overhead watering, water early in day • Space plants for good air circulation

  25. Insects • Insects/mites (systemic such as Imidacloprid) • Green peach, melon, chrysanthemum aphid • Feeds on young growth and flower buds • Plant stunting, wilting, leaf yellowing and leaf curl • Sticky honeydew serves as medium for black sooty mold • Chrysanthemum and serpentine leaf miners • Adult females puncture leaf and lay eggs inside • Eggs hatch larvae that tunnel causing white, twisting mines • Disfigure the leaves and reduce marketability

  26. Insects • Two-spotted spider mite • Feed on underside of leaves, sucking plant sap • Tiny yellow speckles on upper leaf surface • Favored by dry, warm conditions • Common and western flower thrips • Feed on young leaves and flowers • Deformed flower buds, bud abortion, petal streaking • Silvery-appearance to leaves • A number of caterpillars • Adult female moths lay eggs, larvae hatch • Eats leaves, stems and flowers

  27. Costs of Production • Knowledge of productions costs essential • Variable costs • Incurred directly during the production • Pots, plants, potting media and chemicals • Fixed costs • Incurred whether or not the crop is produced • Include “shrinkage” • Percent of crop not marketable or lost due to pest/disease • Variable costs (adjust for shrinkage) + fixed cost = total cost

  28. Any Questions?

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